Max Holloway is feeling much better at lightweight this time around now that there are no plans for a featherweight return.

It was Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson who first wrapped the belt around Jorge Masvida l at UFC 244, following his win over Nate Diaz in 2019. Then, it was Masvidal who presented the belt to Gaethje and later, Mark Coleman, handing it off to Holloway.

Max Holloway won't be angered if Paddy Pimblett skips the line to challenge Ilia Topuria for the UFC lightweight title.

It isn't just any fight, either. It's the final fight of a legendary MMA career for Poirier and a UFC run that spans a decade-plus with an extensive resume of legendary names few can duplicate, including this weekend's trilogy with Max Holloway that headlines UFC 318 in Poirier's home state of Louisiana

Topuria completed his ascent to two-division glory late last month when he headlined the UFC’s International Fight Week pay-per-view in Las Vegas. After bidding farewell to his reign as featherweight king, Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to collect the vacant lightweight crown.

As much as he loves how that has become part of his legend, Holloway selfishly admits that providing something so memorable also gives him the chance to get exactly what he wants in the end. At UFC 300, Holloway became the most talked-about fighter on one of the biggest cards of all time.

One UFC desk analyst believes there is a big question surrounding Max Holloway ahead of his UFC 318 trilogy with Dustin Poirier.